National Republican., 1887-02-23
CURRENT COMMENT.
The scintillations which Brighten Our
Exchange List.

Brooklyn Eagle; There are indications OF
q disposition In some quarters, In obtaining
new guns for our navy and coast defenses,
to fall back upon the old cast-iron system
modified and improved by modern devices
IL would be unfortunate II any more money
should be expended by this government on
ordnance OF the description named, for at
best they are only temporary makeshift,
and in year or two It would be discovered
that all the work Of gunmaking had TO be
done over again.
Boston Herald. Where peace and war
rest ~ on such uncertain factors as those
which determine the immediate future OF
Europe, II is impossible to speak with any
more authority and uncertainty regarding
the probability Of one course of action than
another. IL can, of course, be said that
peace is the normal condition of affairs,
and that something must occur out OF the
ordinary to disturb the reasonably amicl-
BILE relations which now exist between the
various great governments.
Baltimore Herald: The attention Of the
United States Senate has been abruptly
and forclbly called to the presence of a
number Of English and French war.ships
on both sides Of the Isthmus Of Panama,
and to demonstrations looking to the oc-
cupation of the neighboring islands by
these powers. This Is matter in which
no uncertain sound. Not an inch of the
soil Of Central America or its adj AGENT
islands should be suffered to pass into the
hands Of foreign power. The control OF
the Istbmus is an American question. first,
last, and all the time.
Philadelphia Inquirer. The railroad com.
missioners OF Iowa, citing the long and
short haul clause Of the new interstate com
merce bill, hold that the existence OF com
II
and its non-existence at another do not
constitute such dissimilar circumstances as
will justify greater charge for shorter
than for a longer haul. Senator Cullom's
| Interpretation Of the bill IN the Senate was
exactly contrary to this. IL will be several
| years, we presume, before the federal Su
| preme Court will settle just what the long
| ard short haul clause does mean.
Philadelphia Times: After long delay
| that cost legitimate business interests hun
| dreds of thousands Of dollars, aud gavs the
flavor of reputation to the goyernmsnt,
| Congress has finally passed the bill for the
| redemption Of the trade dollars, by their
| exchange for the legal tender dollars in
| which the government now speculates at
| the rate of several millions year. The
| President will doubtless approve the bill,
| and trade dollars will be purchased as bull
| lion at their nominal value, and paid for In
| ItSdl WOTJu
| about 20 per cent. less than their face value.
Gladstone IN Nineteenth Century: By
blocking the way with Irish business We
have effectually hindered the progress of
| British legislation, and have now, while
saddling our parliament with intolerable
labors, fallen into arrears which are also
| felt to be intolerable. What are the COM
| pensatiops which we either have received
or can nationally hope to receive from these
| grave and serious mischefs? Are discon-
tent and dscredit, penalty In treasure, aud
stoppage of good laws, commodities so
| precious that the people OF England Will
make further efforts and sacrifices in order
to their perpetuationP
| st. Paul Pioneer Press There will be
| fewer of these general strikes in future;
men satisfied with their work aud wages
will refuse to take up and make their own
| the quarrel OF somebody else; and labor
will soon understand that this method is In
no way necessary to the accomplishment
of every right purpose which lies behind
organization. 1t will, indeed, somewhat
curtail the power Of those who have sought
to use vast masses OF workingmen as so
many counters in a game played for the
stake OF imperial power. That power, as
| we have seen, Is capable OF inficting upon
the worker wrong as great and even more
causeiess than any that he has suffered at
| the instance OF capital.-
| Utica Herald Democratic newspapers
that have been trying to persuade eolore1
voters that the Democratic party has de.
parted from its past and its traditions and
has become the friend OF the negro should
study the recent action Of their party in
Ohio. A bill to repeal the dlscrIminations
in law between white and black citizens
and to open the public schools OF the state
to children without regard to color was
bitterly opposed by all the Democrats In the
legislature but has become law In spite
of their opposition. In view OF this action
Democratic adulation of "Jim" Matthews
becomes the rankest hypocrisy. AS u mat.
ter of fact an attempt was made TO fill the
place Of one Of the most distinguished col
ored men in the country with common
small politician who chanced to be black,
and on that trick of partisanship to deceive
the colored voters OF the country. The
Ohio Democrats have exposed the subter.
| fupe